Theatre 68 Premieres THE AFFLICTED at Noho Arts Center, Now thru 11/16

Ronnie Marmo presents the first production as the resident theatre company at NOHO ARTS CENTER, the World Premiere of Leif Gantvoort's "The Afflicted", directed by Danny Cistone, opening at The NoHo Arts Center beginning tonight, October 18th, 2013.

After the city erupts in an outbreak of mass murder, a few survivors find shelter in an isolated dilapidated church. The government claims that the spreading chaos is the result of a biological terrorist attack, but the people in the church have theories of their own. Some believe that it's stem cell research gone mad. Some believe it's the wrath of God...and some are convinced that it's a surprise ground attack by another country as an act of war. In fact, the only thing that these people seem to agree on is that whatever afflicts their funny walking attackers isn't really important. The really important thing...is to survive, even if that means using fighting techniques learned from horror movies and music videos.

PRODUCTION TEAM:

Playwright - Leif Gantvoort
Directed by - Danny Cistone
Produced by - Ronnie Marmo
Set and Sound Design - Danny Cistone Lighting - Matt Richter

THE ACTORS:

Heading up the cast is Jeremy Luke who has just burst on the scene as Joseph Gordon Levit's best friend in the critically acclaimed new film Don Jon.

Joining him is Leif Gantvoort who is best known as Uncle Ben's Killer in The Amazing Spider-Man.

The rest of the cast features Perry Smith, Ariel Hart, Dan Hutchison, Ed Cosico, Shelly Hacco, Eddie Alfano, Nadeen Currie, Femi Longe, Lincoln Castellanos, Tanya Wilkins, Tommy Kijas, Chris Kelly and Bradley Estrin.

Theatre 68 Mission Statement: The 68 Cent Crew Theatre Company is a community dedicated to assisting actors, writers, directors, and producers in the realization of their creative and professional identity. The company is committed to facilitating positive social change through artistic excellence and professional transformation.

Twelve years ago, Ronnie Marmo, with nothing but 68 cents in his pocket and a dream of creating a positive, artistic, and supportive environment for actors, founded the 68 Cent Crew Theatre Company in Los Angeles, California. The mission, to create "a community dedicated to assisting actors, writers, directors and producers in the realization of their creative and professional identity."

Since its inception, 68 has produced over fifty successful shows and festivals including, Lenny Bruce Is Back, Bill W. and Dr. Bob, The Knights of Mary Phagan, as well as the 13 by Shanley Festival. Lauded as one of the top 99 seat theatres in Los Angeles, Theatre 68 has earned a reputation for first-rate productions and has fostered hundreds of talented artists through the years.

THE AFFLICTED runs tonight, October 18th through November 16th, 2013, with performances on Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00PM and Sunday at 7:00PM. Special Halloween Performance on Thursday, October 31st at 10:00PM. All performances will be held at NoHo Arts Center. 11136 Magnolia Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 91601 Running time is 90 minutes with no intermission. $20.00 Advanced purchase. $25.00 @ the door. For reservations call: 323 960 5068 or reserve online at: www.theatre68.com.

BIOGRAPHIES:

Leif Gantvoort - Playwright

Leif has written for the stage and screen many times. His play "Mark on Society" was on the short list for the Garland Awards. His short film "Hyte" was nominated for a best short film award. Two of his feature film scripts are in development, including an adaptation of this
play. He helped launch the web series "Turbo and Joey" by writing the first two episodes. He also wrote, directed and performed sketch comedy for the weekly on-line show, "Acme Saturday Night" - for which he won a few comedy awards. He and his wife, Amy, are the proud parents of Gabrielle, who appeared regularly on the hit web series "The Guild."

Danny Cistone - (Director, Set Designer & Sound Designer)

Danny's film directing credits include Monster Heroes and West of Brooklyn which he also directed on stage for Theatre 68. For the stage he directed and designed the Off-Broadway Hip-Hop sensation, Groovaloo, Shanley's The Big Funk and Music, Cocaine & Philosphy. He has production designed for film, TV, commercials and theatre including Final Witness(ABC/Disney), School Spirits(SyFy), Strictly Sexual(Hulu). Music video designs include Katy Perry's Candifornia Tour, Pink's European Tour and Truth About Love Tour, History of the Eagles Tour, Danko Jones, Carbon 9, Michael Duff, Young Wolf Hatchlings and Leo. Some notable stage designs include Cops and Friends of Cops (2013 Ovation Nomination), The Mercy Seat (Ford), The Knights of Mary Phagan (NAACP Award Nomination), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (2008 Ovation Award Nomination), the 13 By Shanley Festival (Theatre 68), A Few Good Men (LA premiere), The Lost Plays of Tennessee Williams (Actors Studio), On An Average Day (2008 Ovation Award Nomination, 2008 LA Drama Critics Circle Nomination)

Ronnie Marmo - Artistic Director (Producer)

Ronnie Marmo has starred in more than 30 plays, including his portrayal of Lenny Bruce in the one man production of Lenny Bruce is Back. He recently completed a run of Baby Doll for the Elephant Theatre Company. A few of his other favorites include Danny and The Deep Blue Sea, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot and Bill W. and Dr. Bob at Theatre 68.

Marmo has also written several scripts, both for the stage and the screen. His favorite is the semi-autobiographical story, West of Brooklyn, released in 2009, which he wrote, produced and starred in. He has had leading roles in such films as Truck 20's Location, Limbo Lounge and Pizza With Bullets. He recently received the Robert Pastorelli Rising Star Award for achievements as actor, writer, director and producer at the 2010 Garden State Film Festival.

Marmo has produced and directed over fifty plays including the critically acclaimed Bill W. and Dr. Bob, which enjoyed 350+ sold out performances in the past 10 years, West of Brooklyn, Lovers and Other Strangers (40th Anniversary production), The Boys Next Door, and Bent. Ronnie was the Artistic Director and Producer of the critically acclaimed first ever 13 by Shanley Festival which enjoyed a six-month run last year. He was nominated as a producer by the NAACP Awards for the productions of The Knights of Mary Phagan and Subway Series.

Ronnie currently appears on ABC's General Hospital as Ronnie Dimestico and he continues to serve at the Artistic Director of the 68 Cent Crew Theatre Company in Los Angeles and New York City.

Matt Richter - (Lighting)

Matt is a Los Angeles based Lighting and Sound designer. For Theatre 68: Last Night In The Garden I Saw You by John Patrick Shanley (World Premiere), Lenny's Back & Boy is He Pissed. SacRed Fools: Neighborhood 3 (Garland Award Nominee), Watson (Stage Scene LA Award), The Forbidden Zone (World Premiere) and Endgame. For Theatre of NOTE: Shoe Story (Ovation Nomination), Skeleton Stories (Ovation Nomination), Shake, Kill Me Deadly (Ticketholder Award Nominee), Figure 8. For The Elephant Theatre Company: Asleep on a Bicycle (Ticketholder Award Nominee, Sound Design), Idea Man, Love Sick and Little Flower of East Orange (West Coast Premiere- Stage Scene LA Award Sound Design). He was honored to design the world premiere of Theatre Revelation's The Devil Has a Sister at the Melkweg Theatre in Amsterdam. For more information, visit www.mattrichter.net.

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